How to Choose the Best Camping Stove #WoodsExplorer

Camping is an amazing adventure that lets your family enjoy what the world has to offer in a natural setting. It gives you a chance to bond, strengthen relationships and dive in to new experiences. One of the most challenge experiences I find when camping is meal preparation. Without all of the conveniences of home (i.e. microwave, coffee maker, stove, etc.), meal prep becomes a task rather then a pleasure. Although cooking fish and hot dogs over an open fire may seem like a meal idea, it doesn’t work for well rounded family meals. That’s why when I camp with my family a propane camping stove is a must have camping tool.

What is a Camping Stove?

A camping stove is a portable stove with 1-3 free-standing burner assemblies with integrated pot supports and an external fuel tank which is pipe-lined to the burner assembly. It allows you to prepare meals in pots or frying pans quickly and easily. Lit by either a lighter or a power ignition, these stoves are to heat and cook food quickly and easily when a normal kitchen isn’t available.

Choosing a propane camping stove depends on factors such as number of people it will be used for, what you intend to cook, where you intend to travel with it (i.e. driving vs hiking) and your budget. Over the years the overall appearance of the traditional camping stove hasn’t changed that much (my new one reminds me of the one I used as a kid!), there are a few things you should keep in mind when looking for camping stove:

Fuel Type – I like to use propane camping stoves because they are easier and safer to travel with (especially with kids). Within minutes of arriving at your campsite, you can set up stove, hook up the propane tank and have an instant cooking flame. Other stoves that use liquid fuel require pumping- up to pressurize the gas before ignition. Propane also lasts longer than Butane and is a cheaper way to provide home cooked meals for your family.

Burners – Camping stoves range in number and size of burners. If you are camping as a couple or individual, a singe burner may be sufficient. When camping with a family or to cook more then one thing at a time, a duel burner is more appropriate. When choosing a stove, make sure the cooking surface is large enough to support your pots and pans.

Wind screen – Have you ever tried to lite a match only to have it continually blown out by the wind? When cooking in the wilderness, you never know what type of weather you in for. I highly recommend you ensure that your camping stove comes with wind screens. Wind screens are the flaps on each end of the stove that block the wind block reaching your heating source. Without a wind screen, even the lightest breeze will disperse your burner flame heat make cooking longer then necessary. If you are cooking with a large pot, the wind screens are able to fold out of the way to accommodate the extra space required.

Cooking grid – Cooking can get messy and without running water and full access to your cleaning supplies, you’ll want a stove that is easy to clean up. I look for one with a sturdy cooking grid so my pots and pans will be well supported. I also love the idea of a stainless steel drip pan to help catch those spills that are guaranteed to happen.

Two 3-3/8″ (8.6 cm) burners with individual cooking controls, each with a 10,000 BTU output (20,000 BTUs in total)

Pressure regulated for consistent cooking performance

New individual burner controls for added cooking flexibility

Lightweight wind deflectors help protect the flame from burn-outs

Stainless steel drip tray for easy clean-up

Chrome-plated grill with a corrosion-resistant metal lid for long lasting performance

Electric pies ignition for quick light

Uses a 16.4 oz (465 g) disposable propane cylinder (sold separately)

Includes instruction manual

This product carries a 1 year exchange warranty redeemable at any Canadian Tire store.

As you can see it meet the criteria listed above. What I love about this stove is it is lightweight, easy to set up, easy to use and provides the ability to make this mama a coffee bright and early! The individual burner controls allows you flexibility when cooking and the stainless steel drip tray makes clean up a breeze. I love that this stove is pressure regulated to allow for constant cooking temperatures and had wind deflectors to prevent the flame from going out if the wind gets too rough.

If you are planning a camping trip this summer and need a new camping stove, I highly recommend you try Woods™ Quick Fire Propane Stove. Features, quality and budget friendly, I’m sure you’ll love it as much as my family did!

Love it! We have this stove too! Love that we can make camping favourites like bacon and eggs to fancier camp food like Filipino BBQ . Okay, coffee on the stove also works better for me than on the campfire! I like being able to control the temperature of the flame!